Yax Thakkar and Kaushal Joshi, Ph.D., were recognized with the Early Stage Investigator Travel Award at the 2018 Genetic Toxicology Association (GTA) Meeting.

The duo, who are scientists at the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), was awarded for their poster abstract “The Bluescreen HCTM Assay to Predict the Genotoxic Potential for Fragrance Materials.” Together, Thakkar and Joshi develop, research and review genotoxicity data included in RIFM’s Safety Assessments for Fragrance Ingredients. Joshi’s research focuses on the effects of commercial products on the cardiovascular system and the molecular mechanism underlying cardiotoxic effects in an animal model. Thakkar has held numerous toxicology positions at companies including Coty and L’Oréal.

Thakkar and Joshi were presented with the $1,000 award during an awards presentation held Friday, May 4, 2018. They were also included in a roster of honorees at a dinner reception held two days prior. The 2018 GTA meeting was held in Newark, Del., at the University of Delaware, Clayton Hall Conference Center May 2-4, 2018.

The abstract and poster are available in the “Publications” section of the RIFM website at www.rifm.org.